Lowe's, based in Mooresville, N.C., also plans to add 9,000 part-time employees on a permanent basis.

On average, seasonal employees will work 20 to 25 hours per week and the length of seasonal employment will vary. Most jobs will start in February. Some could last until September.

The prolonged housing slump hurt home-improvement stores, in part because homeowners have held back on big-ticket renovations. But now, most economists say the housing market is recovering and that the gains should continue this year.